The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-09-14
4 YOUNG CLERKS CRIME.
A Maine Savings Bank Robbed
Of S2sO,0OO.
The Defaulter an Employe Only
Nineteen Years Old.

The biggest sensation the town of Saco.
Me-, has ever experienced developed the other
morning. when it was learned that tho Saco
and Bddeford Savings Institution had seri
ously suffered financially through a young
clerk who had absconded. Frank c. McNeilly,
nineteen years old, who had been employed in
the bank about one year, had nysterlously
disappeared, taking with him S, 500 in cash,
United States registered per cent bonds,
payable in 1907, amounting to slS5, GOO, and
railroad, municipal and other bonds, amount
! ing to about sci, 900. Though he left town
on Monday afternoon, yet the bank
! officers kept the matter so quiet that the
news did not leak out until Wednesday
morning. Great excitement prevailed, as
McNeilly was considered one of the most
trustworthy young men in the city. The
president, trustees and cashier placed the
greatest confidence in him. He was &C
Suainted with the combination Of every lock
in the bank vaults
Cashier Melville H. Kelly, of the bank is
also Treasurer of the Mutual Fire Insurance
Company. On Monday afternoon loss
was reported by fire ut Kennebunk. Mr.
Kelly went to view the ruins, leaving
Frank McNeilly to finish up the days
accounts. When Kelly opened the
bank OH Tuesday morning, he found
MOn00VS
pleted. Preside Goodale was notified, and
The entire afternoon was spent in examining
the contents of the safe Considerable time
had been consumed before the theft was de-
tected A large amount of gold and cur
rency. which McNeilly could easily have
stolen, was unmolested.
President Goodale was interviewed by
reporter. He says the loss is so much less
than the surplus that the bank will be per-
fectly safe, even if the amount taken by tho
absconding clerk is never recovered. The
SIS, 900 in United States registered bonds
cannot possibly be used by the thief.
The banks statement last May places the
surplus at little over sG3,
Treasurer Kelly posted notice outside Of
the bank stating that the bank is safe, and
that depositors need feel no alarm. Detectives
were engaged and sent in all directions A
dozen of McNeilly's photographs were found
in bank drawer and were placed i'll the
! hands of the detectives
McNeilly is five feet eleven inches tall,
weighs AS pounds, has dark hair, smooth
face, fair complexion, and stands very erect
when walking. He has a good figure, and
would be called handsome. When he left he
had on a light mixed coat, dark woi sted
trousers and congress shoes.
McNeilly was regarded by oil who knew
him as a model young man. He was less
than nineteen years old, but for two years
had held a position of great trust and
responsibility. How great was the trust
reposed in this boy few knew until
to-day. He is very handsome, and was
great pet in society. 1t is said he never was
Known to associate with any one not entitled
to say that he or she belonged to the best So
ciety Young as he was he had paid marked
attention to young lady of rare accomplish
ments, and Of great personal beauty, to
whom he was engaged to be married
He was not only society young man, but
was deeply religious young man also. ne
was found at church early and late, it is said,
and oil who know the parties fully believe
that his ostentatious piety helped him more
than anything else to the place occupied in
the confidence of the officers of the bank he
has yictimized